It doesn’t take long to appreciate why Napier New Zealand is the Art Deco Capital of the World. Simply taking a walk down the main road, we found ourselves surrounded by fun and funky examples of Art Deco. There are 140 Art Deco buildings, doors, sculptures, and more in this town. Napier is one of a …
24 Unique and Fun Things to Do in Napier New Zealand
Napier is best known as the Art Deco Capital of the world, but this offbeat New Zealand town has a lot more to offer. From Māori and European history to wine tasting or adventure, there are plenty of novel and fun things to do in Napier and the surrounding Hawke’s Bay region. To understand Napier, you need …
Karangahake Gorge Walks: Windows out of Old Gold Mines
Karangahake Gorge is an odd mix of remnant goldfields and nature’s majesty. Once the site of New Zealand’s most lucrative gold strike, it is now a recreation and impressive hiking destination. Swing bridges, gold mine shafts, a historic cyanide treatment plant, and lush green forest led us to the gorge, a jaw-droppingly beautiful site. The Karangahake Gorge Historic …
Tauranga Nightlife: Consider a Kayak Glow Worm Tour
Darkness descended quickly after the sunset. We climbed into sea kayaks and gently slid into the water. A night kayaking glow worm tour wasn’t what I had in mind when I initially thought about Tauranga nightlife. Yet, gazing upon the Lake McClaren glow worms turned out to be a highlight of our time in New Zealand’s …
25 Fun Things to Do in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui
Home to New Zealand’s top rated beach, the world’s most accessible active marine volcano, kiwifruit, glow worms, street art, and more, the region is aptly named the Bay of Plenty. It is filled with exciting and fun things to do in Tauranga (the largest city), Mount Maunganui (coastal beach town), and the surrounding region. It’s …
Kiwifruit Country: Tour a New Zealand Kiwifruit Orchard
Kiwifruit Country produces a classic New Zealand icon, the kiwi fruit. And not just a few, they grow 1,500 tonnes annually. That’s a lot of fruit, especially when you think that each piece is handpicked. We toured their kiwifruit orchard just days before the start of the annual ten-week picking season. The fruit on the vines was …
Papamoa Beach Resort: the Perfect Stay in Bay of Plenty NZ
Coffee in hand, I watched the rolling surf as the sun rises over the horizon. There is no better way to start the day, and I did this each morning from my beachfront villa at the Papamoa Beach Resort in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. From here, my days only got better. I found …
Ngatea Water Gardens: Nature with a Sense of Humour in New Zealand
Offering surprises around every corner, Ngatea Water Gardens in New Zealand exceeded our expectations on every level. While the landscape is beyond lovely and the birds and fish plentiful, it is both the owner’s sense of humour and the massive “Can Museum” that caught us off guard. Ngatea Water Gardens The five-acre water gardens are …
How to Photograph a Light Festival: Enjoying Auckland at Night
Vivid colours, artistic lighting, and marine projections brought with it the challenge of photographing a light festival in Auckland at night. Bright Nights brought Viaduct Harbour alive with a light and sound spectacular curated by international award-winning light artist Angus Muir Design. As always, New Zealand knows how to throw a party. “The waterfront means …
East Cape NZ Driving Itinerary: Gisborne to Opotiki
Along the east coast of the North Island, and often overlooked by tourists, East Cape NZ juts out into the ocean. A piece of real New Zealand, East Cape is nature, history, and culture. The dramatic coastal drive from Gisborne to Opotiki is 334 kilometres, a 5.5-hour drive over mostly paved roads. It can easily be …
20 Things To Do In Gisborne NZ – First Place to See the New Day
Gisborne New Zealand is the first place in the world to see each new day. A small coastal city off the main tourist track, there are a surprising number of unique things to do in Gisborne. Steeped in Maori culture and history, it is worth a visit. We spent our limited time here hiking, relaxing in …
Zealandia Eco-Sanctuary by Night and Day
Tucked up over the city of Wellington is Zealandia, an ecosanctuary reminiscent of the days before humans arrived in New Zealand. A predator-proof fence surrounds the Zealandia sanctuary, creating an “island” within New Zealand’s capital city and allowing birds and other native creatures to live wild as nature intended. Whether you are a nature or …
Exploring Waipu Caves and Waipu Cove New Zealand
One of the things I love about living in New Zealand is that we don’t have to go far to have an adventure. We drove less than two hours north of Auckland to Waipu Cove campground (with beachside cabins). In the morning we explored Waipu Caves, one of the glow worm caves in New Zealand …
Quinn’s Post Joins Two Powerful War Exhibits in Wellington NZ
Te Papa Tongarewa, the National Museum of New Zealand is home to the country’s history and that includes our involvement in the wars. Its newest exhibit Gallipoli, The Scale of our War is one of three must-see war exhibits in Wellington, the nations capital city. It was created by created by Weta Workshop (The Lord of the Rings) …
One Tree Hill an Auckland Icon, but Where’s the Tree?
As you reach the top of Maungakiekie, more commonly known as One Tree Hill, the first and most obvious question is, “Where is the tree?” That won’t be your question for long, as newly planted trees are continuing to grow. Interesting History of One Tree Hill (and the missing tree) Located adjacent to beautiful Cornwall …
